Automatic secretarial reminder



Dec. 12, 1950 J. A. ALBERS 2,533,751

AUTOMATIC SECRETARIAT.. REMINDER Filed Aug. 5, 1949 2 sheets-sheet 1ATTORNEYS R o n m E E m l I l V I 2 3 m A. G m A F F nu 0 0 M/ 2 a, 2 e0 H/ /J y. u f .d

lllllll BYw.N 4 w Dec. l2, 1950 J. A. ALBERS` Au'roMATIc sERETARIALREMINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 5, 1949 FIG.4.

INVENT OR Joseph A. Albers A ORNEYS Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITEDrSTATES PATENT oFFlcE AUTOMATIC SECRETARIAL REMINDER Joseph A. Albers,Cheviot, Ohio v Application August 5, 1949, Serial No. 108,715

Claims. (Cl. 161-6) lto any other matter involving an element of time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedstructure which can be associated with and operated by a conventionalalarm clock, either of the mechanical or the electrical type. Y

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improveddevice in which a memorandum cardor pad holder can be moved to itsretracted set position on the clock by merely actuating a reset leverwhich simultaneously sets the alarm lever of the clock.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of animproved structure in which means are incorporated for projecting vthememorandum card or pad holder so, that a visible as well vas an audiblesignalis. given for attracting. the attention. I

.The present invention aimsto provide an improved device of thischaracter in which the means for projecting the memorandum card or padholder is normally heldinoperative and is releasedfor projecting theholder by movement of the alarm mechanism of the clock.

The present invention also aims to provide an improved structure whichcomprises relatively few parts, is simple and economical to manufactureand will not easily get out of order.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,v

Figure2 is a rear elevational view of the device with parts broken awayand parts in section and showing the position of the parts when thememorandum holder is in its projected position,

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken.v

2 on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of thearrows,

Figure 4 is a View similarto Figure 2 butshowi ing the position of theparts whenthe memo?v randum holder is in its retracted position.

Figure 5v is a vertical sectional view taken the line 5 5 of Figure 2and looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the memorandum card or pad holder,

and Figure 8 is a perspective view of the release rod. Referring moreparticularly to the drawings,

IU indicates a base of a clock casing, II a front wall orpanel, I2 arear wall, I3 and I4- opposite side Walls and I5 a top wall. A clockworks I6 is mounted within the clock casing and is supported lby thefront panel II to which it is attached by screws or the like I1. Theclockworks I6 may be of the conventional mechanical or electrical alarmtype and has a back plate IB.

A conventional dial I9 and hands 20 and 2| of ther clock Works arevisible through a suitable window in the front panel II of the clockcase and a crystal22 protectsthe dial and hands. v

A shaft 2,3 of the alarm mechanism of the clock works I6 projectsoutwardly through the back plate I8 and a sprocket wheel 24 is fixed. tothe projecting end portion of the shaft 23,

the shaft 21 extends through an opening in thev pedestal and is peenedover to prevent with--4 drawal. The forward end portion of the shaft 21extends through a suitable opening in the panel II and has a knob v29xed on its forward extended end portion. A pointer 30 is mounted upon orformed integral with the knob 29 and is adapted to be moved by rotationof the knobv around a dial 3| which bears the numerals one to twelvecorresponding to the indicia on the dial of the clock Works. through an'appropriate .opening in the dial 3| which is mounted on the outer faceof the front panel I I of the clock case. A conventional alarm lever 32is mounted on the clock works I6 forv setting the alarm mechanism inposition to operate when the clock works reaches the time at which thealarm has been set to operate.

A memorandum cardA or pad holder generally Figure 7 is a perspectiveview of the reset leven;

The pedestal 28 is mounted upon the basef The shaft 21 extends 3indicated at A is mounted for vertical movement through a slot 33 formedin the top I5 of the clock case. The holder A has a base 34 which may bein the form of an elongated plate and has depending from its oppositeforward edge portions feet 35 which may be substantially triangular inshape, the outer edge portion 35a of each foot being substantiallyvertical and eX- tending beyond.. the end of the .base y34. Amemorandumcardor pad 36j is held by a `frame whichI comprises a bottom31 and a pair of spaced apart oppositely disposed U-shaped members.J

generally indicated at 38.

The bottom 31 is attached tothe upper face..

of the base 34 and is of substantiallyithasame shape and length as thebase but is of less width to provide an upwardly facing shoulder 39;.Each member 38 comprises a pair of spaced apart vertically extendinglegs 40 and a bridge pp rtion 4l. connectngthewlegs All to form achannel 4*42 forthe reception of the oppositeendportions ofV thememorandum card `or pad. The members 3B-are, attached to the` bottom 31in any suitable manner. A'panelg38f is disposed" between and has its*oppositel ends-attachedto the free edges of; theback legs Mlpf themember 38'and its lower edge engagingwthe upper face ofthe, bottom 31 tosupport the intermediate portion ofthe memorandum.y card or pad. Anapertuneddring 43 is secured tothe under `face ofthe base 34substantiallyv mediauyA thereof. Each of a pairof spaced apartsubstantially Sf-gshaped, guidesA 44 `have one ilange l secured totheinnerrface ofthe front panelf I I'-of-thecloek case-adjacent'oppositeends o'fithe slot 33 `in'the top I Sand its; other flange vis disposedin.- spaced apart relationn to the inner face of `the front .Y

panel vI I to; form aj vertically extending-guideway` 451-1501 receivingthe outer edge portions 35e of' the f eet 35."

A; link-46 jhas itsA upper end-pivotally connectedtot -the'ring 43 of'the' memorandumA holder -by -a- :impor-the like 41 and its lower endpivotally con-Y nectedfto4- the` inner-end portion of fra-1 link` 48#bylapineonthe like 49.I Theouterendeportion of the linke-46* isxpivot-ally mounted-ionL aH pinV or thelike50which is'supportedby afpairoffspaoed apart'brackets'` 5 I attached=to-the inner l facewofhthesideewall I 3" of: theiclockcase:A A ycoiled spring IT'-'encireles--the4 pin- 5 lr and vone lend# portion of A the spring bears against ithe inner face .-.of l the sidewall -I3 'of-1 the= clock.y case4A andits opposite endportion bears against the-under. beveledsur fce.of.*fa`projection-5 3` whichxis .formed ionathe. linkdaladjacent .its .outerend.

Az. substantially `vertically extending catch bar Blais pivotally`connectedo intermediate its..` ends bwa. .pini or the .like .55l to thevlink 481.inwardly offsits:projectionf53.i The upper. endsportion of-.athe: catch bar-54 Ais pivotally."connectedf'ftol a reset:.lever-56 byapin or-thelikez-51.- TheV outer.; edgeiof. the. :lower end..portionofnthie f catch bands i cutaway.v as vat v58.1 on. adownwardrand.` inward@` inclination to forma-.catch shoulder. 5.9.Interimediate .its ends .the resetlever 56 has `an angul'arlyoffsetsportion 6Ilso that: the-inner endy -portienflkof thelever-56 isdisposed `rearwardly of.l the clock. Works I6.. A cylindrical. bearing62 extends rearwardly. from the. rear.V face `vof-= theinner.end.portion.-6'I of thelever 56 and `is rotatably received byabearing pin 63 which=is -rnounted-A omtheinner face of-therear wallfI-Zofthe..clockVv caserV` Theifreeend of-therein 63 can be peenedf overvtopreventl the-lever 56 rfrom-escapingthere :remt A substantiallytriangularlydshapcd.brace 4 64 is attached to the inner end portion 6Iof the lever 56 and to the bearing 62. The outer free end portion of thelever 56 extends outwardly through an opening 65 in the side wall I3 ofthe clock case and is provided with a finger engaging portion 66outwardly of the casing.

A release catch 61 in the form of a bell crank lever is pivotallymounted by a pin or the like 68 onaboss 69 which inturn ismounted on theinneryface `of the l.front panel I l of :theclock case. The horizontalarm of the bell crank lever extends outwardly through an opening 1I) inthe side Wall I3 of the clock casing and has a finger piece .1=I."onitsOuter. extended end. The vertical arm of the bell crank lever is cutaway as at 12 on an upward'and outward inclination to form a shoulder`13V which at times engages the shoulder 59 on thecatch bar 54.

A coiled spring 14 has its lower end portion housed by a cup 15 which ismounted on the base If of the clock-case and.A its upperI end uportionencircles a. nipple 16 :which depends` from. the.. lower faceof` `thehorizontali arm-ofthe :.release.Y catch 61:v The. spring.14.bearsagainst the under-1l surfacev ofthe horizontal. armof. the releasecatch.` 61f=ata point disposedroutwardly of theHpivot* Salso-that thevertical;A arm `of vthecatchiwillx benormally swungxnwardly Vto engage.the shouldr der A13'..with`. the .shoulder53 vof the'bar-SLThe.,upperrendfportion: of.` the- .releasecatch .6.1=.- is .pivotallyconnected; by aapinl or. .the.like=.11 itc.l thezouter.- end/portion.ofpa. releasarodr-.TBewhichi extends! inwardly and-has an@angularlyioiset;` portion 1`9::so.that theiinnerf.endifportionisxydisi.Y posed-#rearwardly .offthe1- clockawork's |65. The; upperedgeiportion of the release... rod 1821s; notched as at 8| toaccommodate-the: shaftu and* the :innenend.` .portion`.Btl-10ftthe.:rod;=.18,aeis supported by l a 1 guide: strap.82:,which-f. is :mounteds ont the-outer face-.of thezlhacki plate. I6.01.5 ther; clock.` works by.n suitable.. fastening elementsf. 83:1 suchas screws-nor..thelikeiy Theinner. endroit-thenu rod 18 is disposedinttheapath ,ofrotationf-.offag canf184f xed. vto a, shaftfrlirwhich: isrotated .by the alarmmechanismiof the clock;`

In theusefoi; the device,z.;let; it; beassumed;.tl:1at".` the.` .alarm:mechanism: .shaftp 5i; `has.,.rotatedfthe.; cama4 Meso .that f thethigh.` cpointf 8.411L .fof 4'the ,ricain-..1 has moved the release rod18 toatherleftflookings at; Figure :2;I This .movementv offthefrelease.rod will'. rock: the release.: catch 6 lrout'lof. rengagement@` with.the catchbar.5ltiandA thesholder Ar willsbe.; moved: toits .proj ectedposition I shown in: Figures; 1; 2 andi 5 `asilater described.- Thealarm .mechanism shaf t1. 85zwillncontinuesto.- rotatesthescamf..84:until the highfpoint .Marot lthe-earn:movesaoiit of :contactwithi-tne -endl.off the.` releaseeroduf:A The .releasecatchis 'i undertl-ie.V influence oit; its spring 14f andlthe.1eleasetrod=1-8`ifarez.movedltoi the.-right tothe positionishownYnrFigureAn If the user= has an appointment;` or wishes to make avtelephone-- callV -at some specic ti-me;4 forx-A ample, at 2 p. m., amemorandumoflthe appoints ment` or-callwill be made ori-acard'o1-gpadlwhich willl kbe inserted-in theI holder-Ar The.-knob -262will be rotated until the pointer-36 444registerswitlrthe f numeral f 12on` the diall 3L This movement of theknob 29"-willz 'causev thealarm-Ameehanislnf of the clockf-works- IG'to -be -setl for 2f oclqck throughthe rotationfoffthe shaft-21,1thesprocketi wheel-.261,-y sprocketlchain25;: sprocket Iwheel/L34 and shaitl 23 Liofwthe; alarmmechanism'.-v

751i leven-rwilliibe swungfdowwwardlyn on--the bearing pin v63. Thisdownward movement of the reset lever will move the alarm lever 32 whichis disposed in the path of downward movement of the reset lever to itsset position so that the alarm mechanism will operate when the clockworks i6 reaches 2 oclock. At the same time, the downward movement ofthe reset lever 56 Will cause the holder A to be retracted to itsretracted position illustrated in Figure Ll. This retraction of theholder will be eiected by the lever 56 moving the catch bar. 54downwardly through the connection 51. As the catch bar 54 is forceddown- Wardly, it will cause the link 48 to swing downwardly about itspivot 50 against the tension of the spring 52 and the link 48 throughthe pin 49, the link 46 and the pin 41 will drawthe holder A downwardlythrough the slot 33 in the top I5 into the clock casing as shown inFigure 4. The guideways 45 will cause the holder to travel in a straightline and prevent jamming of the holder. As the catch bar 54 movesdownwardly the opposed beveled faces 59a and 13a of the shoulders 59 and13 will move the vertical arm of the release catch 61 to the left sothat the shoulder 59 will move below the shoulder 13. The spring 14willmove the shoulder 13 into locking engagement with the shoulder 59 tohold the parts in their set position as illustrated in Figure 4.

When the clock works i6 have traveled to 2 oclock, as indicated by thehands 2D and 2| in Figure 1, the alarm mechanism is actuated. The cam 84is rotated by the shaft 85 in the direction indicated by the arrow 86 asshown in Figure 2 so that the high point t4a of the cam engages theinner end of the release rod 18 and shifts the release rod to the leftlooking at Figure 2. This movement of the release rod 18 rocks therelease catch 51 on its pivot 68 to disengage the shoulders 59 and 13.The spring 52 being under tension, as explained above, will force thelink 48 upwardly and through the pin 49, link 46 and pin 41 project theholder A suddenly upwardly and out of the slot 33 in the top l5 of theclock casing. This sudden ejection of the holder A will provide avisible signal that will attract the attention of the user of the deviceand will supplement the conventional audible signal of the alarmmechanism.

The shoulder 39 on the base 34 of the holder A will engage the underface of the top I5 adjacent the slot 33 to limit the upward movement ofthe holder and the actuating parts therefor. When the reset lever 5'6moves upwardly it will free the alarm lever 32 so that the alarm leverwill move to shut off the alarm mechanism. If, after the device has beenmoved to its set position, it is desired to change a memorandum or addanother memorandum or the like, the holder A can be projected to permitaccess to the memorandum card 36 without waiting for the clock works toreach the time for which the device has been set. The operator candepress the nger piece 1l of the release catch 61 with his finger, asillustrated in Figure 2 to permit operation of the parts as describedabove to project the holder A. The new or amended memorandum can then bewritten on the card or pad 36 and the device reset by depressing thenger engaging portion 66 of the reset lever 56.

It is obvious that various changes and modications may be made in thedetails of construction and design of the above specifically describedembodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof,such changes and modifications being restricted only by th scope of thefollowing claims.

What I claim is:

1. An improved automatic secretarial reminder comprising a clock workshaving lan alarm mechanism, supporting means for the clock works, amemorandum card holder mounted on said supporting means for movementbetween a set position and an accessible position, a link movablymounted on said supporting means and connected to said holder, resilientmeans supported by said supporting means for normally urging said holderto its accessible position, a releasable locking mechanism forreleasably locking said link and holder in the set position of theholder comprising a catch bar connected to said link and having ashoulder thereon and a bell crank lever movably mounted on saidsupporting means and having a shoulder thereon for engaging the shoulderon said catch bar When in its locking position, and means actuated bythe alarm mechanism for releasing said releasable locking mechanism.

2. An improved device as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the factthat resilient means are provided for urging said bell crank lever intoits locking position and that said bell crank lever is provided with afinger piece for permitting manual disengagement of said shoulders.

3. An improved device of the kind described comprising a clock workshaving an alarm mechanism, supporting means for the clock works, amemorandum pad holder mounted on said supporting means for movementbetween a set position and an accessible position, a reset lever movablymounted on said supporting means, an alarm setting lever connected tothe alarm mechanism and disposed in the path of downward movement of thereset lever, a link movably mounted on said supporting means andpivotally connected to said holder, a catch bar pivotally connected tosaid reset lever and to said link, resilient means supported by saidsupporting means for normally urging the link, the reset lever and theholder to the accessible position of said holder, a release catchmovably mounted on said supporting means, said release catch and saidcatch bar having cooperating portions for releasably locking the holderin its set position, resilient means mounted on said supporting meansfor normally urging the cooperating portions of said catch bar andrelease catch into locking position, a release rod movably mounted onsaid clock Works and connected to said release catch, and a cam actuatedby the alarm mechanism for moving said release rod, whereby said releasecatch is moved toits inoperative position.

4. An improved automatic secretarial reminder comprising a clock workshaving an alarm mechanism, supporting means for the clock Works, amemorandum pad holder mounted on said supporting means for movementbetween a set position and an accessible position, means for moving theholder to its set position, releasable means for retaining said holdersetting means in its holder setting position, means actuated by thealarm mechanism for releasing said releasable means, said supportingmeans comprising a casing` having a front panel and a top provided witha slot, guide means mounted on the inner face of said front paneladjacent said slot, said holder comprising a base, a pair of feet,portions of which are received by said guides, aibottom` mounted.ontsaid :base,-:a pair of upstanding spaeedpapart `legs supported .bysaid bottom and having channels. therein for theireception 'of armeinorancmm:card or :the like, andia:panelxrestingmpon said bottornandhaving its opposite ends attachedito vsaid liege, said lease having kaportion for1engagingthe under face .of said `.topo'i the casing adjacentsaidzslotwhen the-'holder is inits accessibleposition for limit ingttheoutward movement yof 4the holder with respect .to the casing.

5; For'usezwitna clockworkshavinga casing, a dial `fand, an alarmymechanism provided ,with anialai'msetting shaft, an improved automaticseoretarial Teminder compri-sing a second dial adaptedto besinounted onsaid casing( and having indicia Ithereon corresponding t to the indiciaon theadial of .the clock works, a Shaftifadapted to be =rotatablysupported by said casing, `a knob having-a ,pointer and fixed Ato voneend of `said shaft for rotation about said second mentioned dial,asprooket-Wheel`mounted on said-shaft, second sprocket wheel adapted tobe. mounted on said alarm setting vs11af t as plOCke/t `chain trainedabout -said sprooket Wheels, la memorandum `tard holder adapted to bemounted in said casing for movement Ybetween` a 'set retracted; positionwithin the casing and an accessible projectedy position without thecasing, means `adapted todos:E mounted on `said `casing for moving theholder to. its set position, releasable means adaptedyto,4

be Imounted `on the casing 1 fol:` retaininggsaid holder lsetting meansin its holdertsetting position, iand `means adapted to -be mounted onithe. casing and` actuated by the'alarm mechanism rior releasing saidreleasable means.

JOSEPH ,'A. ALBERS.-

REFERENCES CITEDI The'following references are of lrecord in-fthe leof-this patent: i

UNITED STATES PATENTS J

